§ MR. SUMMERBELL (Sunderland)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if damages have been 306 awarded to the native dock labourers at Lagos who were recently flogged by the order of a British port official, the judge describing the flogging as illegal and unjustifiable; and, if so, would he state what punishment has been meted out to the port official responsible for the flogging.
§ MR. CHURCHILLThe Secretary of State has no reason to doubt the correctness of the statement which has appeared in the Press that damages with costs; have been awarded to the labourers who were flogged. The official concerned was summoned before the Governor and the Executive Council of the Colony and was censured. He has been further punished by the cancelling of an advantageous appointment which had been offered to and accepted by him shortly before the incident occurred.